research outline paper

Research Paper: Outline Instructions

The outline is to be detailed; that is, there should be three levels in the outline.  The first level is the top: introduction, body, and conclusion. The second level should be the major sections of the paper, and the third level should be the major ideas within each section.  The introduction and conclusion should be written out and the final references (no annotation) should be listed on the reference pages.

In your introduction, please make clear what the thesis statement of your paper will be. The thesis statement is that compelling idea or vital piece of information you are trying to communicate in this paper. The thesis should be the focal point of the introduction and the paper itself; it is usually located as either the first or last sentence of the introduction.

The conclusion should summarize the major points of the paper that support the thesis. A good conclusion is difficult without a good thesis.

Please visit this OWL Purdue website that explains what a thesis statement is and provides examples of how to write one: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/

Outline Format:

1. Introduction

The introduction should be fully written out. The introduction presents the thesis statement of the paper, which is usually the last sentence of the first paragraph. The thesis is not a summary of what the paper is about.  It should tell me what you learned in writing the paper. The thesis is the main point or argument that you want the reader to take away from reading the paper.  It should be direct, succinct, and clearly communicate the central idea.  The thesis is the focus of the introduction and the entire paper. The thesis should also be seen in the title of the paper.

2. Body
3. Main Idea
4.      Secondary Idea (references that support this secondary idea.)
5.      Secondary Idea (references that support this secondary idea.)

                                   iii.     More as needed….

1. Main Idea
2.      Secondary Idea (references that support this secondary idea.)
3.      Secondary Idea (references that support this secondary idea.)

                                   iii.     More as needed….

1. Main Idea
2.      Secondary Idea (references that support this secondary idea.)
3.      Secondary Idea (references that support this secondary idea.)

                                   iii.     More as needed….

3. Conclusion

The conclusion should be written out. It should summarize the major points of the paper that support the thesis. It is difficult to write a good conclusion without a good thesis statement.

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